Psyllium seed may be effective in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with functional constipation

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal system.
• Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPIs) prescribed in different diseases such as GERD.
• About one-third of patients do not respond to PPIs or suffer from PPIs side effects.
• Usually GERD happens with other gastrointestinal motility disorders such as functional constipation.
• Probably, treatment of functional constipation can be effective in the treatment of GERD.

GERD, return of stomach contents into the esophagus, is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in medicine. Its common symptoms are heartburn and acid reflux. Usually, patients with GERD history develop clinical signs such as heartburn accompanied by functional constipation. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPIs), is a drug of choice for GERD but all patients do not respond to the drug and long-term use of these drugs leads to infections. According to the same physiopathology mechanisms of chronic constipation and GERD, improvement of functional constipation may be effective in relieving symptoms of GERD. According to the effectiveness of psyllium seeds in chronic constipation symptoms, it is predicted to be effective in treating GERD in patients with chronic constipation.

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